Spring cover



Oct. 12, 1937.

G. W. CRABTREE SPRING COVER Filed March 31, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet lZinnentor Gwee: MCe45Te6 (Ittbrnegs G. w. CRABTREE 2,095,859

SPRING COVER Filed March 51, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 attorneys PatentedOct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,095,859 SPRING COVER GeorgeW. Crabtree, Cleveland Heights, Oliio Application March 31, 193%, SerialNo. 71,889

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in covers for laminated vehiclesprings and more particularly to a jointed section type of cover such asdisclosed in my copending application Serial No. 9,097, filed March 2,l935 It is among the objects of my invention to provide a'metalliccasing for a laminated spring which is simple and rugged inconstruction, will provide a lubricating means for the spring and whichwill flex in response to spring movement and not interfere with thenormal spring action. A further object of my invention is to provide aspring cover according to the preceding object having a plurality ofbody sections joined to each other and a onepiece top for said sectionswhich will facilitate the assembly of the cover upon the spring andinsure that the top will not become separated from the sections duringuse. A further object of my invention is to provide a spring 'coverhaving bottom and. top spring enclosing portions in which the topportion is flexed inter- Inediate its ends during assembly oftheportions to provide a resilient latchingunion with the bottom portionwhen assembled. A further object of my invention is to provide a springcover faccording to the precedingobject in which the top portion isprovided with tongues adapted to enter apertures in the bottom portionwhen flexed during assembly and to be resiliently urged into saidapertures upon complete assembly of the top and bottom portions. It isalso among the objects of my invention to provide a one-piece top unitfor a spring cover having a plurality of curves intermediate its lengthto' provide a resilientlatching of said top. A further object of myinvention is to provide a metallic spring cover having a body sectionformed with inwardly turned prongs or tongues to engage a fabric lineror wrapper and prevent shifting or creeping of said liner within thecover.

and advantages relating to simplicity and. economies of manufacture willappear from the following description and the accompanying drawingswherein: q p 3 Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the elementsforming the spring cover according to my invention;

Figure 2 .is an elevation illustrating the position of the parts of thecover during assembly upon a vehicle spring;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the spring cover asassembled and ready to use; Figure 4 is a transverse sectional Viewtaken along the line l4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectionalview correthe cover to the spring, andassociated with the Further objects spending to Figure {l with the partstherein in their assembled position;

Figure 6 is an elevation on exaggerated scale 'With parts broken awayillustrating the curvature of the top section with respect to the body 5section of the cover;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 except that the top and bodysections are latched together.

' Recent developments in the motor vehicle art 10 have been directed toimproving the action of laminated leaf springs and the use of metallicspring covers and the advantages attendant upon their use have resultedin a general acceptance time and labor expended" to attach such said 25types of covers to the spring. In the event that a spring leaf shouldbreak or that it is desired to add to the lubricant supply within thespring cover, it is important that the spring cover be 3 quickly andeasily detached by manual manipulation, and yet the cover should not beopen to the defect of inadvertent displacement by violent springflexing.

Generally speaking, I have eliminated the ob- 35 je ctions noted in theaboveparagraph and have section indicated generally at l I). Preferablythe 4 body section comprises aplurality (threein the illustratedembodiment) of U.-shaped channel sections which are tapered throughouttheir length to correspond to the spring enclosed and which areproportioned at their ends to have an 5 overlapping or telescopic fitwith each other. The U-shaped channel sections'6- -1 8 in the roundedportion 29 on one end of the section 6 55 tongues Ila. and

is compressed and slidably moves within the rounded portion 30 on thenext adjacent section I and the other end of the section 'I is similarlyrounded as at 3| to slidably rock or roll within the rounded jointportion 32 of section 8. For convenience the section 8 will be referredto as the eye-end of the spring cover inasmuch as this end of the coveris positioned adjacent the shackle eye of the main spring leaf.

The free edges of the channel shaped sections 6I8 are preferably flangedas at 6a-Ia8a and in positioning the body portion 5 of the spring coverabout the spring said inturned flanges function to retain the bodyportion temporarily in position. This form of retention, however, isrelatively impositive and facilitates the arrangement of a fabric greaseretaining envelope. Preferably the grease retaining envelope'or liner asused in my spring cover is provided with a self-forming welt or greaseretaining bead at its end portions as disclosed and claimed in mycopending application N01. 71,891 filed March 31, 1936.

To retain the fabric liner in its proper position with respect to thespring cover and the spring embraced thereby, the lower wall of the endbody sections 6 and. 8 are formed with one or more inwardly struckprongs or tongues 44. The fabric liner is folded to embrace or surroundthe spring and the prongs 44 on the metallic cover, gouge into thefabric, and insure that the liner will remain in position regardless ofthe flexing of the spring or shrinking tendencies of the fabric actingto disarrange the liner.

Alternatively the fabric grease retaining envelope may correspond tothat disclosed in my Patent No. 1,981,448, November 20, 1934, or thetemporary flange retention may facilitate positioning of lubricantretaining pads such as disclosed and claimed in my copending applicationSerial No. 6,966, filed February 18, 1935. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that a spring cover constructed according to the presentinvention may be proportioned to receive and cooperate with othertypesof lubricant retaining devices The inturned flanges 6ala--8a alsopermit slight adjustment of the spring cover body section 5 prior to andduring the application of the top member ID.

Preferably the top member In comprises a unitary longitudinal striphaving downturned flanges, and may be economically stamped in oneoperation from sheet metal. During the stamping operations the top isprovided with depressions such as Na and I2a to define top portions II,I 2, and I3. The flanges or side wall portions I4 and N5 of the topsections II and I3 respectively are each slotted from the end portionthereof as at I! and I8 to provide latching tongues Na and [8arespectively. The latching I8a are preferably rounded axially andtransversely and thus cooperate to afford a snug resilient frictionalfit within cooperating apertures 24 and 25 formed in the side walls ofthe cover body sections 6 and 8 respectively.

To insure a resilient latching of the top section of the cover to thebody section, and thus provide a spring cover that will be silent underall conditions of use, I prefer to form the portions II, I2 and I3slightly arcuate with respect to their cooperating body sections 6, Iand 8. The portion of the top section immediately adjacent the ribs Ilaand I2a remain more or less flat throughout the formation and use of thecover,

whereas II, I2, and I3 are arched as best shown on an exaggerated scalein Figure 6. In actual practice I have found that by arching theirsections II, I2 or I3 so as to provide a space C of about of an inch,the cooperating struck-out latched portions 22, 21 will be resilientlylocked in position, and provide a space as at C (Figure 7) of about ofan inch. A further advantage growing out of the arcuate formation of theportions II, I2 and I3 is associated with the removal of the cover fromthe spring. For instance, by depressing the central portion above theinterlocked latch 222'! of an inch, the flange I5 may be forcedoutwardly by a screw driver or similar tool, and in this manner theentire top may be quickly removed to facilitate lubrication or repair ofthe spring.

Since the top portion I0 of the spring cover and body section 5 in itsassembled position are proportioned to have substantially the same axialextent, it will be observed that to position the latching tongues I10:and I So in their cooperating apertures in the body portion, the entiretop member I0 must be flexed so as to decrease its effective axiallength as indicated in Figure 2. I have found a convenient method ofassembling the top member I0 upon the body section to comprise insertingthe latching tongues, either Ila or I811, in their respective apertures(see Figure 2) and then simultaneously flexing and moving the other endof the top section downwardly to effect an insertion of the latchingtongues at the other end of the body section. Subsequent to this actionthe top section may be pressed downwardly to force the flexed or centerportion downwardly and effect a secure latching engagement between thecooperating struck-out portions 2B2I, 21-22 and 28-23 formed on the bodyand top sections respectively (see Figure 3). As described above, eachof the sections II, I2, and I3 will be centrally depressed to latch themto their respective body sections. It will be observed that this methodeliminates the need for any separate binding latches or the need for thepeening over or clinching of interlocking elements subsequent to thepositioning of the top or cap upon the body section. This featurepresents an advantage commercially over the prior art types of springcovers and assembly by reason of the labor and time saved on theassembly line in modern automotive production.

By following the foregoing construction and method of assembly I havefound a spring cover constructed according to my invention to remain inposition upon the spring and properly carry out its normal function of,providing a protective lubricant envelope for the spring in spite ofviolent spring flexing and abnormally adverse driving conditions.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention inconsiderable detail, I appreciate that those skilled in the art mayeffect variations and modifications therein without departing from thescope of the invention, and

therefore I wish to be limited not by the specific disclosures madeherein, but rather by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A metallic cover for leaf springs comprising a series of U-shapedbody sections arranged in an end-to-end telescoping relation and securedto each other in said telescoped portions to permit hinging movementbetween said sections, a top member for said body sections comprising aunitary strip provided with longitudinally extending spring, a one-piecetop portion having an axial extent corresponding to the length of thebody portion, one of said portions provided with apertures adjacent itsend, and the other of said portions provided with co-operatingstruck-out tongues adjacent its end, the axial distance between the freeends of the struck-out tongues and the axial distance between saidapertures being unequal whereby assembly of said two portionsnecessitates the flexing of one of said portions to arrange said tongueswithin said apertures.

3. A metallic spring cover comprising a body portion formed of a seriesof inter-connected sections proportioned to surround a part of alaminated leaf spring, a top portion having an extent corresponding tothe length of the body portion, one of said portions provided withapertures adjacent its end, and the other of said portions provided withco-operating struck-out tongues adjacent its end, the distance betweenthe free ends of the struck-out tongues and the distance between saidapertures being unequal whereby assembly of said two portionsnecessitates the flexing of one of said portions to arrange said tongueswithin said. apertures.

4. A spring cover comprising a body portion formed of a,,series ofinter-connected U-shaped sectionsproportioned to surround a part of aspring, the end sections of said series provided with apertures, aone-piece top portion having an extent corresponding to the length ofthe body portion, said top portion provided with tongues arranged toco-operate with the apertures formed in said body portion, the distancebetween the free ends of said tongues exceeding the distance betweensaid apertures when in assembled position whereby assembly of the topand body portions necessitates a flexing of said top portion tofacilitate the insertion of said tongues in said apertures.

5. A spring cover comprising a flexible body portion formed of a seriesof inter-pivoted U- shaped sections proportioned to surround a part of aspring, the end sections of said series provided with apertures, aone-piece flexible top portion corresponding in length to the length ofthe body portion, said top portion provided with tongues arranged toco-operate with the apertures formed in said body portion, the distancebetween the free ends of said tongues exceeding the distance betweensaid apertures when in assembled position whereby assembly of the topand body portions necessitates a flexing of said top portion tofacilitate the insertion of said co-operating tongues within saidapertures.

6. A metallic spring cover comprising a body portion formed of a seriesof pivotally connected and telescopically over-lapped sectionsproportioned to embrace a laminated spring, a onepiece top portionhaving a length corresponding to the length of said body portion,apertures formed by substantially Vertical slots adjacent roundeddepressions near the opposite ends of one of said portions, axiallyextending co-operating tongues near the ends of the other of saidportions, the distance between the free ends of said tongues exceedingthe distance between said apertures whereby flexing of one of saidportions is required prior to the insertion of said tongues Within theirco-operating apertures.

'7. A metallic spring cover comprising a body portion formed of a seriesof pivotally connected overlapped U-shaped sections, said sectionsformed with inter-engaging rounded parts in their overlapped areas, aone-piece top portion having a length corresponding to the length ofsaid body portion, apertures formed by vertical slots and depressionsnear the opposite ends of one of said portions, co-operating tonguesextending axially of the other of said portions, the distance betweenthe free ends of said tongues exceeding the distance betweensaidapertures when in assembled position whereby flexing of one of saidportions is required to effect the insertion or removal of said tongueswith respect to their co-operating apertures.

8. A spring cover comprising a body portion and a top portion, said bodyportion comprising a plurality of interconnected U-shaped sections,

each of said sections provided with a substantially straight upper edge,said top portion comprising a like plurality. of integral sections, eachof said last named sections provided with a curved surface adapted to bedisposed in alignment with said straight edge portions of the bodysections, co-operating latching devices formed intermediate the ends ofcorresponding top and body sections whereby interengagement of said co-operating latching devices necessitates a depression or flexing of saidtop section.

9. A metallic cover for leaf springs comprising a series of U-shapedbody sections arranged in an end-to-end telescoping relation and securedto each other in telescoped relation to permit hinging movement betweensaid sections, a top member for said body sections comprising a unitarystrip provided with longitudinally extending latching tongues,transverse apertures formed in the end sections of said series adaptedto receive said longitudinally extending latching tongues and therebysecure said top member snugly against the body member at each end of theseries, a plurality of co-operating latching devices intermediate saidtongues and apertures to further secure said top member to said bodymember and prevent any separating movement between said memberssufiicient to permit said tongues to escape from said apertures byflexure of said sections.

10. A spring cover comprising a sheet metal body portion and a sheetmetal top portion, said body portion including a. plurality, ofinterconnected U-shaped sections, each of said sections provided withlongitudinally extending free edges, said top portion including a likeplurality of integrally formed sections having the longitudinal edgesthereof provided with'a depending flange arranged to overhang the sidewalls of a corresponding body section, one of said portions providedwith means adjacent the free edges of the sections thereof to space theopposed free edges of top and body in assembled relation, co-opcratinglatching devices formed in corresponding top and body portionsintermediate said means whereby interengagement of said co-operatinglatching devices necessitates a depression or flexing of one of saidsections and said latching devices are held in interlocked relation bythe resilience of said flexed metallic section.

GEORGE W. CRABIREE.

